V -"August 26 , 1880 .] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 187 
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t "rowing it in, and that the drainage must be very good. But Mr. 
Tymons has so clearly shown the best way of cultivating it that 
I have no intention of adding to his paper, but simply to give a 
little of the past history of Disa grandiflora, which may have 
escaped the recollection of those who are now interested in the 
plant.—D Deal. 
[We shall next week publish notes on raising Disa grandiflora 
from seed, by Mr. Tymons.—E ds.] 
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY FLOWER SHOW. 
Probably the first horticultural Exhibition ever held in the town 
of St. Albans took place on Friday and Saturday last in the grounds 
adjoining G-orhambury Lodge, that site having been kindly placed at 
the disposal of the Committee by the President, the Earl of Verulam. 
The Show was projected by the Herts Bee-keepers’ Association, and 
by the aid of the energetic Honorary Secretary, the Rev. H. R. Peel, 
the preliminaries were successfully carried out, and the two exhibi¬ 
tions were held in conjunction. A report in another page indicates 
the success of the bee-keepers’ portion, and if the horticultural display 
was not quite so extensive or so generally satisfactory as might have 
been expected, it was certainly no fault of the management. Of the 
eighty classes enumerated in the schedule all were confined to county 
growers, but many of these admirably endeavoured to sustain their 
credit, and to some extent succeeded in their efforts. The plants, 
fruit, and flowers occupied one large marquee, and a portion of another 
was devoted to vegetables and the cottagers’ productions, the arrange¬ 
ments being satisfactory with the exception that too heavy a canvas 
was employed for the marquees, which was the more noticeable as the 
early part of the day was very dull. A large proportion of the plants 
exhibited consisted of collections from nurserymen not for compe¬ 
tition, and brightened the Show considerably. 
The principal class was that for a group of plants to occupy a space 
of 100 square feet, and in this there were only two exhibitors. Mr. 
Aylott, Oaklands, St. Albans, was first with an elegant arrangement 
of Ferns, Coleuses, Achimenes, and Pelargoniums, the chief feature 
of the group being the baskets of Panicum variegatum and Trades- 
cantia zebrina suspended over it. Mr. D. Springings, The Nurseries, 
St. Albans, followed with Crotons, Liliums, Ferns, &c.—healthy plants, 
but not disposed in a particularly artistic style. For nine stove and 
greenhouse plants, W. B. Greenfield, Esq., Beechwood Park (Mr. J. 
Freeman), gained the first prize with the only collection, which com¬ 
prised a fair Cordyline indivisa and a healthy Alocasia Jenningsii. 
The best six stove and greenhouse plants was staged by E. R. Fen¬ 
wick, Esq., High Firs, Harpenden (Mr. G. Underwood), and included 
Acalypha marginata, Yinca alba, and Cassia corymbosa in vigorous 
health, the last-named being well flowered and not so leggy as it is 
usually seen. Colonel Sim, Bushey (Mr. Willcocks), was second with a 
fine example of Dieffenbachia Bausei and a potful of Vallota purpurea. 
In the class for twenty plants suitable for table decoration Mr. 
Willocks was placed first with neat specimens of Palms, Dracaenas, 
Crotons, and Aralias. Mr. Sibley and Mr. G. Underwood followed 
with similarly neat plants. The only other exhibits of plants that 
require notice are the Ferns, of which two collections were staged, 
containing eight each. Mr. G. Underwood was first, specimens of 
Adiantum formosum and A. concinnum being notable for their fresh¬ 
ness. Mr. Freeman was awarded an equal first prize. 
Fruit was fairly well shown, a few of the collections containing 
really excellent samples. In the class for eight dishes Mr. G. Sage, 
The Gardens, Ashridge Park, Great Berkhampstead. was awarded the 
premier prize for well-coloured Black Hamburgh Grapes, very fine 
Royal George Peaches, excellent Elruge Nectarines, handsome Morello 
Cherries, and an enormous Melon, The Squire. C. Butler, Esq., Hert¬ 
ford (Mr. G. Aslett), was second with a moderately fine collection, 
including good Morello Cherries and a fair Gilbert’s green-flesh Melon. 
For six dishes of distinct fruits, H. J. Toulmer, Esq., Childwickbury, 
St. Albans (Mr. C. Pollard), obtained premier honours with ripe Pine¬ 
apple Nectarines, Moorpark Apricots, and Black Hamburgh Grapes. 
Sir Andrew Lusk, Colney Park (Mr. Sibley), followed with neat and 
fresh specimens ; Mr. Wm. Gurning, Brockett Hall Gardens, Welwyn, 
taking the third position. Messrs. Sage and Aslett were successful 
exhibitors of Pine Apples, both fruits being of medium size but well 
ripened. Black Hamburgh Grapes were shown by the Rev. H. R. 
Peel, Hemel Hempstead, and G. C. Lockhart, Esq., The Elms (Mr. F. 
Froud), in fair condition and secured the chief prizes. Mr. G. Norman, 
The Gardens, Hatfield House, Hatfield, was the only exhibitor in the 
class for any other black Grapes, and obtained the chief prize for 
Madresfield Court, well coloured and of good size both in bunch and 
berry. White Grapes were exhibited by Mr. G. Aslett in fair condi¬ 
tion, and he obtained the first prize in that class. Melons, Figs, and 
Peaches were represented by moderately good fruits, the latter being 
the best in quality. Mr. Sage and Mr. Sibley were the principal 
prizetakers. 
Vegetables were fresh and clean, Messrs. Aylott and Sibley taking 
the majority of the prizes. Cut flowers were few and do not require 
special comment. The cottagers’ productions were numerous, the 
vegetables being particularly well grown. Several neat collections of 
wild flowers were also exhibited, the specimens being very accurately 
named. 
The miscellaneous exhibits were very numerous, the most important 
being from Messrs. Cutbush A Son, Highgate and Barnet; Messrs. W. 
Paul & Son, Waltham Cross ; Mr. Francis of Hertford; Messrs. Paul 
and Son, Cheshunt; Mr. Watson; and Mr. Springings of St. Albans. 
WENTWORTH CASTLE. 
By the kindness of Thomas Wentworth, Esq., the members and 
friends of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Society were allowed to visit the gardens at Went¬ 
worth Castle on August 3rd. On arriving at Birdwell station we 
were conducted to the Birdwell Lodge gates, and there commenced 
a most pleasant and instructive walk. The drive is about three 
miles long from the lodge to the castle, and on entering the gates 
the visitor is at once struck with the magnificent specimens of 
Beech ; at least for 700 or 800 yards there is a continuous avenue 
of Beech, many having stems from 4 to 54 feet in diameter. 
Emerging from the avenue into an open space there was a fine 
lake to the right with an island of Rushes in the centre, and a 
little further to the left were two grand old Elms. After passing 
over a bridge with rustic fencing there was another lake with 
several islands. On passing through another gate we were in the 
woods again, with an avenue on each side consisting of old trees 
of Oak, Ash, &c. ; to the right were good specimens of Larch, the 
trunks being over 3 feet in diameter, one clothed with Ivy was 
very beautiful. We next entered the open park, the drive being 
lined with trees, one side grand Elms, the other Oaks. 
On arriving at the gardens we were met by Mr. James Batlev, 
the gardener, who. escorted us through the private grounds, 
kitchen garden, and houses, to the famous old castle, rebuilt in 
1720, which is said to have been besieged by Oliver Cromwell. 
The walls round the old courtyard are being fast covered with 
Ivy, and the banks and a yard are laid down with grass, and in 
the centre is erected a statue of the third Earl of Strafford. From 
the top of the castle the visitors obtained a fine view of Penistone 
and the surrounding neighbourhood. Near the flower garden is a 
monument erected to the memory of the Right Hon. Lady Mary 
Wortley Montague. The conservatory was next visited. Tacsonia 
Yan Yolxemi was growing there luxuriantly, the roof being 
almost covered with it. Mr. Batley said that for the last five 
years the plant had rarely been out of flower. The remainder of 
the roof was covered with the graceful Coboea scandens. There 
was a large walk down the centre and one on each side of the 
conservatory. In the centre bed was a grand specimen of the 
Norfolk Island Pine, the other beds being filled with good examples 
of Oranges, Palms, Tree Ferns, and similar plants. 
In the kitchen garden were some bushes of Red Currants loaded 
with large fruit. Peas, Celery, Lettuce, and vegetables generally 
were doing remarkably well. The first house we came to there 
was a cool greenhouse filled with Pelargoniums, &c., then came 
the Pine stove. The Pines both for succession and fruiting were 
looking well. The side benches of this house were occupied with 
Ferns and Dracaenas for table decoration. In the vinery late Grapes 
were very good both in bunch and berry. A sun-dial made in 
1732 out of a Yew tree was greatly admired. In an Orange house 
a good specimen of Tacsonia princeps was in flower. In another 
vinery Muscat of Alexandria Grapes were fine, the bunches being 
large. The adjoining house contained Black Hamburghs and 
Gros Colman ; the bunches and berries of the former were better 
than I have seen for several years. The nexthouse was planted with 
young Vines growing very freely ; a Vine in a pot was carrying 
two bunches of Hamburghs weighing over 5 lbs. each. On leaving 
this house and passing through the kitchen garden to the outer 
door our visit to the gardens terminated, everyone being quite 
satisfied with what they had seen. Permission having been granted 
for the visitors to see the picture galleries, many availed them¬ 
selves of the opportunity. The party returned to Sheffield in the 
evening well satisfied with their pleasant excursion.— Robert 
Hall. 
Death of Mr. Abraham Stansfield. —Mr. Abraham Stans- 
field, of Yale Cottage, Todmorden, senior partner of the firm of 
A. Stansfield & Son, nurserymen of Vale Gardens, better known 
as Stansfield’s Gardens, died rather suddenly on Sunday morning 
last, but for the last two or three years deceased had been in a very 
feeble condition. Mr. Stansfield had all his life been a most 
useful man to the town of Todmorden, having taken an active 
part in every matter which was for the good of his fellow men, 
and he had also won the respect and esteem of the inhabitants. 
He was a prominent friend to the Todmorden Scientific Associa¬ 
tion, and at the time of his death was President of the Todmorden 
Botanical Society, which post he had occupied for a great number 
of years. He had at various times of his life been fully engaged 
in public and private offices, and was very widely known and 
